What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlotte has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

Sheldon has grown the fastest since 2010 (-1.7%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Charlotte	Sheldon
People
Population	1,501Lowest	2,216Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-11.7%Lowest NY: +4.2%	-1.7%Highest NY: +4.2%
Median age	45.8±4.3Lowest 15% above NY	48.9±7.6Highest 23% above NY
	Sheldon and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3.4Highest NY: 20.5%	14.9%±3.9Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Charlotte and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.8%±5Highest NY: 17.9%	25%±3.2Lowest NY: 17.9%
	Charlotte and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	15.2%Highest NY: 40.2%	13.7%Lowest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±0.8Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±2.8Highest NY: 7%
	Sheldon and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$61,082±$4kLowest 29% below NY	$71,214±$5kHighest 17% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$107,500±$10kLowest 75% below NY	$175,900±$14kHighest 58% below NY
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$648±$208Lowest 60% below NY	$818±$84Highest 50% below NY
	Sheldon and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,049Highest 54% below NY	$3,037Lowest 54% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	38.6%±25.6Lowest NY: 52.1%	50.9%±21.3Highest NY: 52.1%
	Sheldon and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Lowest NY: 14%	11.8%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Lowest NY: 54.3%	81.6%Highest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 7 yrs newer than NY	1963Lowest 4 yrs newer than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 8% below NY	33 minHighest about the NY average
Work from home	1.9%±1.5Lowest NY: 14.9%	2.2%±1.6Highest NY: 14.9%
	Sheldon and Charlotte are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.